The Voth are an ancient species which appear to have evolved from the Hadrosaur species that roamed Earth in the time of dinosaurs. If this origin is to be believed, then they long ago escaped the extinction events that wiped out other species on Earth by developing spaceflight and travelling to the distant reaches of the Delta Quadrant. When encountered by the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager, the Voth became curious about humans and Earth, but ultimately remained steadfast in their belief in their Doctrine, which states that they are the first intelligent species to have evolved and that they are native to the Delta Quadrant.

Although Voyager’s tense encounter with the Voth ended without bloodshed, the species has recently clashed with the powers of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants over control of the Solanae Dyson Sphere. The sphere is an unfathomably powerful structure, and contains countless Omega particle generators that power the mysterious alien megalith, but whose ultimate function remains a mystery. While the Voth Doctrine dictates that it is their right to control the sphere, the combined forces of the Federation, the Romulan Republic and the Klingon Empire have vowed to neutralize the danger presented by the Omega particles. With these great empires unable to find a common ground for negotiations, armed clashes now rage across the interior of the sphere and beyond.

What if Humans weren’t the first intelligent species to evolve on Planet Earth? This is the question that is explored in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Distant Origin,” with the alien species – the Voth – exhibiting multiple biological similarities with forms of life that developed in the Alpha Quadrant millions of years in the past. The question isn’t definitively resolved in the episode. But that’s exactly what Star Trek fans love – unanswered questions and exploring new theoretical possibilities of what the future might reveal to humanity.

When designing the Voth for Star Trek Online, we chose to explore the questions of their origins, their dedication to Doctrine, and what it might mean for a civilization to last millions of years as a starfaring species. Over these vast periods of time, Voth scientists would have had ample opportunity to delve into areas of scientific knowledge that modern humanity can’t even dream of yet. And yet, restricted by their adherence to Doctrine, their potential for discovering and embracing new concepts has been hampered almost to the point of stagnation. Nonetheless, the need for a defensive military force in a hostile galaxy has driven their research into cybernetics, bio-engineering and the construction of megalithic ships that dwarf the scale of those seen anywhere else.

In Season 8: The Sphere, players will find themselves plunged into conflict with these ancient beings, over the presence of the dangerous and awe-inspiring Omega molecules found within the Solanae Dyson Sphere. While it is the duty of the Alpha Quadrant forces to dismantle the generators creating and storing these devastating particles, the Voth believe they are the rightful owners of the sphere’s technology, and advanced enough to control and utilize the power of Omega found within.

What better way to defeat such a technologically advanced enemy, than to turn their own arsenal against them? Players fortunate enough to obtain the Voth Bastion Flight-Deck Cruiser will be given the opportunity to do just that. This massive Cruiser boasts both heavy offensive and defensive capabilities, while simultaneously fielding a hangar of Voth Heavy Fighters at their command, and making use of the same array of Cruiser Commands available to all Flight-Deck Cruisers. This powerful vessel will be the grand prize available with the Voth Lock Box.

The Voth Bastion Flight-Deck Cruiser also comes equipped with the Reactive Shield Amplifier console. Activating this console grants the vessel complete immunity to incoming damage from all sources for a limited amount of time, while simultaneously reflecting this damage back at attackers that fire upon the shield. This shield is not completely impervious however, and can be dismantled before its duration is complete if the user is hit with enough damage (up to 100,000 total damage is negated and reflected, before the shield dissipates).

Also available from the Lobi Crystal Store is the Voth Palisade Science Vessel. Although the smallest of the Voth’s starship line-up, this vessel still packs a punch through its use of debilitating science abilities and its stalwart construction can withstand heavy bouts of incoming fire. Being a “true” Science Vessel, this starship comes equipped with Sensor Analysis and Subsystem Targeting.

Palisade Science Vessels come equipped with an Aceton Field Generator console. Activating this console shifts the Voth vessel into an absorption mode that drains subsystem energy from nearby ships while also building up Aceton Charge based on the amount of incoming fire the ship is under. As the Aceton Charge builds up, the ship becomes more and more resistant to incoming Energy Damage. Aceton Charge can be released at any time to send out a massive wave of radiation damage which becomes more devastating the more charge the ship has built up.

Equipping both the Reactive Shield Amplifier and Aceton Field Generator on the same Voth starship will passively increase its damage resistance from all sources, and allow it to utilize Voth Cloak – an out-of-combat stealth ability which incorporates a massive increase in damage resistance.

Additional vessels will be available within the Voth Lock Box, in the form of Mirror Universe Starships. For this box, players will see the return of the selection previously contained within the Dominion Lock Box.

As was seen in the previous Lock Box, the Voth Lock Box will include an entirely new Universal Console. This console can be fitted on any vessel of any faction. In keeping with the theme of Voth technology, this new Universal Console utilizes the Spatial Charge Launchers which can be seen used by the Voth Citadel Dreadnoughts that players will come in conflict with in Season 8.

Activating the Spatial Charge Launchers console will initiate a barrage of spatial charges to be sent at the enemy target. Each spatial charge will target the location of this enemy, fly toward that location, and detonate in a large and powerful blast. Fast-moving ships may be able to avoid these blasts, but each individual charge will be devastating if not avoided.

The new series of Genetic Resequencers found within the Voth Lock Box are all specifically designed to enhance an ability that is unique to each player profession. Instead of each Trait being contained within its own package, there are only two packages – one for Ground and one for Space. Captains that open either will be rewarded with a Trait Unlock that is matched to their Profession (Engineering, Science or Tactical).

Your Orbital Strike is replaced with Orbital Chasing Beam.Orbital Chasing Beam will follow nearby enemies for a few seconds after striking, and deal periodic continuous damage instead of being a single instant strike.Subspace Manipulator – ScienceYour expert knowledge of localized subspace manipulation allows you to enhance your Dampening Field with additional debilitating effects.

Your Dampening Field inflicts the following additional effects on enemies within its radius:Decreased Run SpeedDecreased PerceptionTactical Vigilance – TacticalYour heightened sense of tactics allows you to convey additional positioning benefits upon yourself and your entire team.

While under the effects of Tactical Initiative, you and all teammates become immune to Flanking.

Adds Flight Speed, Turn Rate and a temporary Immunity to Slow to all teammates affected by your Tactical Fleet ability.

Not every member of the Voth species is entirely pleased with the militant adherence to Doctrine their brethren have displayed in recent times. Many enlightened Voth have chosen instead to embrace the Distant Origin Theory, and reach out to their distant relatives from the Alpha Quadrant. These free-thinking Voth are willing to offer their services as highly-skilled Duty Officers aboard your vessel. Each Voth Separatist Duty Officer is of Very Rare quality and possesses the unique “Free-Thinker” Trait, which improves their efficiency with performing Duty Officer Assignments within the Solanae Dyson Sphere. Each officer also offers a new unique Active Roster Ability, if placed on Active Duty.

Voth Antiproton Weaponry will be made available via special Weapon Packs that can be obtained by opening a Voth Lock Box. The high-energy output of these types of weapons are known to sometimes cause phasic disruptions to enemies, reducing their potential damage output for a short period of time. All of their weaponry also boasts their recognizable visual wavelength design. Despite these unique properties, they can still be enhanced using standard Antiproton consoles and abilities. Players at any level will obtain a Very Rare / Purple quality weapon that is appropriate for their level, while Vice Admirals and Brigadier Generals will also have a chance of finding Mk XII weaponry within these packs.

Several potential prizes that have been present in other recent Lock Box offerings will be returning as part of the Voth Lock Box, including:

Random Bonus Pool BoostsEach time a Lock Box is opened, if it is determined that you were to receive a numeric boost, a random roll will be made to grant you any one from the following list of available boosts:

In addition to any of the aforementioned prizes, every Voth Lock Box contains a random amount of Lobi Crystals (at least 4). As with all previous lock boxes, we’ve expanded the prizes that can be obtained from the Lobi Crystal store, by introducing new costumes, new equipment and new consumable items.

The uniforms seen in use by Voth foot soldiers will be made available via a special Costume Unlock: Voth Light Soldier Outfit. This pack includes the basic uniform, as well as the many decorative and functional add-ons and adornments. Players of any allegiance and species will be able to utilize this unlock, and can mix-and-match it with other Uniform pieces they already own.

A new Ground Weapon will be made available, which adapts the massive weaponry used by Voth Exosuits into a more portable Assault Weapon. The Voth Antiproton Shocktrooper Cannon has primary and secondary firing modes which unleash hails of antiproton projectiles on nearby enemies, similar to those seen by the aforementioned Exosuits. Additionally, this weapon comes with a unique tertiary firing mode that replaces the typical melee attack of other weapons with a point-blank EMP Burst attack which can knock back all nearby enemies while dealing damage to their shields. While it has a longer cooldown than the typical melee attack, it packs quite a punch!

During recent explorations led by Dyson Joint Command, a clutch of Raptor Hatchlings was rescued from a Voth hatchery discovered within one of the spires that dot the inner surface of the Solanae Dyson Sphere. Although Voth frequently train these creatures for combat, they don't seem to be specifically bred for such a purpose, and are wonderfully docile and loyal companions at birth. Their inquisitive nature and heightened intelligence make them easily domesticated. These vanity pets can be purchased in a pack which will randomly reward one of the eight ( different breeds that are available, each with unique colorful markings.

Transwarp Coil Consumables, which up until now have only been available from the Dilithium Store, are also being made available in the Lobi Crystal Store. Players will be able to purchase them in packs of 2 or 10. Each Transwarp Coil is capable of sending players to the far reaches of the galaxy at a moment’s notice, with a relatively short cooldown, but is consumed after a single use.

The Voth Lock Box, as well as these thematic additions to the Lobi Crystal Store, will become available starting tomorrow, November 12, 2013, at approximately 10:00am PS